Testing a Medication to Boost Speech Recovery After Stroke

This trial is testing whether escitalopram, an antidepressant medication, can help boost the effectiveness of speech therapy in people recovering from a stroke that affects language. The medication works by increasing a brain chemical called serotonin, which may help the brain rewire itself and recover language abilities faster. Researchers will compare people who take this medication alongside speech therapy to those who receive speech therapy with a placebo (a dummy pill).

After a stroke, many people lose the ability to speak or find words, a condition called aphasia. While speech therapy helps, recovery is often slow and incomplete. Scientists think this medication might enhance the brain's natural ability to heal and rewire itself, potentially making speech therapy much more effective.